El Chupacabras, fact or fiction – a scientific look at a legendary cryptid.

by foam cage

El Chupacabras (1) now a legendary cryptid was originally seen in Puerto Rico in the 1995. Quickly word of the creature and sightings traveled to Chile and Latin America before moving on to Mexico and the US. Sightings have now been reported throughout the US, from the South west all the way to Maine. The Name in Spanish pronounced [tCupa”kaβras] comes from chupar “to suck” and cabra “goat”, literally “goat sucker.”

The name Chupacabras was giving to the creature because of the hallmark to it’s legacy. The animal’s reported habit of attacking and drinking the blood of livestock, especially goats. Descriptions of the creature vary, but two common traits are :

The way it leaves its victim’s, dead and drained of blood.

It’s hairless appearance

In Puerto Rico the creature was originally describes as walking upright on two legs, mostly hairless, with glowing red eyes and spikes on it’s back. It was said to hop, jump, or possibly even fly away to escape pursuit. It was said to possible have wings or horns or both, and some said that it hissed or screamed when seen. It was also said to possibly be able to make a rattling sound with it wings. A sound somewhat like a rattle snake.

However recent reports mostly from the US tell of a creature that more closely resembles a Canid or Canid Hybrid (probably severely infected with the parasite that causes mange). It is said to have short front legs and elongated rear quarters. With very long nails and K9 fangs protruding from it’s mouth.

The creature was never captured or killed in Puerto Rico, but in the US the animals that people have called El Chupacabras have been killed numerous times. DNA testing on those creatures proved to be of ordinary canids and canid hybrids. The Texas animals were nothing more then a Coyote and Mexican Grey Wolf Hybrid, other animals tested proved to be 100% domestic dogs or Coyotes.

What makes these animals so scary is their hairless appearance. It has not yet been proving, but that appearance seems to be caused by the skin decease, which results from mange and mite infestation. Mangy animals are also usually quite unhealthy too. As it just becomes difficult for them to survive because of the sores and loss of apatite that is a symptom of mange. Mange can cause problems in any animal with hair, even humans, primates and birds.

That brings us to the Puerto Rican description of the animal. Could that description be of a small primate or monkey with mange? Monkeys are not indigenous to Puerto Rico. However there is now a large population of feral Rhesus monkeys in Puert Rico due to their release from a lab in the 1930’s. It is thought that these monkeys possible deceased with mange, may have been what was seen and thought to be El Chupacabras.

Lets take a closer look:

Primates do usually give off a Red eye shine when seen at night. This is due to the lack of a tapetum lucidum in the rear of the eye.

A monkey with a severe case of mange would be thin and probably frightened.

On it’s back, up and down the spine would be one of the only areas that it could not easily scratch and remove it’s own hair. What ever hair that remains would probably get moist and then clump up from the oily discharge giving off when the animals skin cracks and peels. It may even take on a leathery appearance like the rest of the skin.

If the animal was shaking with fear that dried and cracked skin on it’s back and tail could possibly make a crackling sound similar to a rattler (Which has been described by witnesses).

What about the lack of blood at the locations of kills in both the US and Puerto Rico. Well this theory is unproven, but it is a likely solution. If the animal is in the process of starving to death because of sores to it’s mouth, it may still be able to lick up any blood that has drained out of it’s kills. It may not be able to rip and tear flesh, but it can more than likely still drink. After all they are carnivores and do normally eat raw flesh, if they can’t chew I bet they can still lick up some blood and drink it. These animals may have actually found a way to survive with this decease, or at least prolong their life for a slightly longer time. Nature has away of adapting.

So has the mystery of El Chupacabras been solved? In some regards yes, El Chupacabras in this country is just a Canid or Canid Hybrid with a skin decease, most likely MANGE. The Puerto Rican El Chupacabras is most likely in some cases also a Canid and/or Canid Hybrid and in other cases a Rhesus monkey, again with a skin decease. Case Solved!